What's The City of Mesa up To Now With This Survey?

THE SURVEY
Affordability, Sustainability, Reliability:
What’s important to you as an electricity customer in Mesa?
QUESTION: Is the city planning to either own or operate some of these sources?

Post Date: 03/13/2017 4:55 PM

Mesa’s electric utility, the Energy Resources Department, is currently working on our 10-year Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) to examine the different options for providing energy to electric customers (including solar, wind, hydro and traditional power sources) and is currently seeking citizen input.
Mesa’s current power supply is 20% renewable hydroelectric power and the remainder is composed of the sources that make up Arizona’s mix as a whole (nuclear, coal, and natural gas).

Mesa receives its renewable hydroelectric power from the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) and is required to complete an IRP every five years.  
The IRP process helps both the Energy Resources Department and its customers follow the best path forward by determining the best resources for its stakeholders.
At the beginning of the IRP process, all resources are considered viable for meeting Mesa electric customers’ needs. 
These resources include:
1. Long Term Contractual Resources
This is where Mesa issues “Requests for Proposals” from energy suppliers whereby the suppliers can generate energy and sell it to Mesa for an extended period of time. 
The energy may be generated by any technology that the supplier chooses, but typical supplies in the southwest region may include

• natural gas generated electricity,
• coal generated electricity,
• nuclear generated electricity 
• possibly some small contributions from wind generated electricity or electricity generated at hydro-electric generators.

2. Purchasing Physical Resources
Mesa may have opportunities to own the resources that could provide electricity to its customers. 
This may include owning and operating

• natural gas fired generation,
• wind-powered generation or
• solar photovoltaic generation. 

Mesa may also have opportunities for joint ownership in tandem with other utilities in larger resources, accessing economies of scale. ?

3. Demand Side Management
Opportunities may exist for Mesa to facilitate programs which incent Mesa electric customers to reduce their electric consumption. 
This way, Mesa helps its customers to keep their demand low to avoid the cost of acquiring other resources -- through staff analysis and input from the public on what energy values are most important to them (sustainable energy options, affordability, etc.).

We invite you to share your thoughts on energy sources in this 5-minute survey:
English version: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MesaEnergy
Spanish Version: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MesaEnergyEsp
For further information on the IRP planning process, please contact Anthony Cadorin, Energy Resources Coordinator, at Anthony.Cadorin@mesaaz.gov.

This is a reply received 4 days ago in response to questions sent

Thank you for your response to our survey, we appreciate the feedback.  Regarding your questions:

 

QUESTION 1. What's the city paying now for electric supply?

 The cost of electric supplies for the City of Mesa’s electric utility are published monthly on our website in our tariff adjustment sheet.

Blogger's Note : There are no dollar figures in the link provided below
The ELRF is the electric supply cost for our residential customers

The ELCF is the electric supply cost for our commercial customers 

The ELFF is the electric supply cost for our interdepartmental customers 

These costs are inclusive of generation, transmission, and all ancillary services required to deliver electric supplies from the energy market to Mesa’s electric utility:

http://www.mesaaz.gov/residents/energy-resources/energy-factors

Request 2. Please be more specific about dollar figures, financing and proposed entities for joint ownership:

 

City of Mesa Energy Resources is always trying to keep abreast of any new resource opportunities that may be available to Mesa for electric supplies. 

We’ve previously has evaluated resource options like the ones that you’ve listed, on multiple occasions. 

In each case, the drawbacks of ownership, including unit contingent generation, have outweighed the potential benefits to the City when considering the City’s load profile and opportunities on the wholesale market. 

However, we’re always interested in hearing about and evaluating new opportunities when they arise.
Thank you,

Amy McConnell

Transportation | Energy Public Information Officer

480-644-6553 - Office

Visit us at http://www.mesaaz.gov